Nursing Home Employees Charged For Injuring Patient

Lansing, MI - Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced that Latrice Smith, 24, and Arnold Hudson, 22, both of Eastpointe, have each been charged with one count of Vulnerable Adult Abuse—4th degree. The charges are the result of an incident involving a resident at Martha T. Berry Medical Care Facility in Mt. Clemens.

The female resident, who has severe osteoporosis, is substantially disabled and medically fragile. She is entirely dependent on caregivers to move about within the facility, and her plan of care prescribed the use of assistive mechanical devices to transfer her from her bed to a wheelchair. The Attorney General alleges that the defendants recklessly ignored the resident’s care plan and failed to use the assistive device when transferring her. Following the transfer, the resident complained of pain and was diagnosed with multiple fractures.

“Nursing home residents deserve to live with dignity and security and must be kept safe,” Nessel said. “Caregivers are supposed to do just that – give care – and those who approach their duties with less than that commitment will be held responsible.”

Smith and Hudson were arraigned before Judge Sebastian Lucido in 41B District Court in Clinton Township late last week. Vulnerable Adult Abuse — 4th Degree carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. The defendants each posted a $5,000 Personal recognizance bond. A pretrial conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22.